The annual Holiday House NYC is celebrating its 10th year of exquisite designs this year. The proceeds go to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) and this year one of our own Westchester designers, Sara Touijer has been chosen as one of the designers. Her room, a beautiful bedroom.
Even though this was Touijer’s first time designing for the showhouse, she had attended previous shows and could picture herself designing a room that was a reflection of her.
Her design inspiration for her room was “Classic Comforts During the Holidays.” Her room was sponsored by Hastens, who provided the chic and comfortable bedding. “The striking blue and white check pattern influenced the color palette of layered blues throughout the room,” says Touijer. “The walls were painted a soft white, which created a calming effect in the room. To contrast this softness, a deep indigo grasscloth was applied to the ceiling.”
In the alcove area, she continued the dark blue by using it in the inset moulding areas. The color used was Navy by Benjamin Moore.
![]() ![]() |
She created the splatter artwork herself to add more contrast and to keep with the holiday spirit, she added pops of red and eucalyptus wreaths and llix branches.
There is a definite mix of older and newer pieces in Touijer’s design, which she said is what it makes it so special. “One of my favorite pieces in the room is a Louis XV dresser with a drop down desk,” says Touijer. “It’s such a striking piece that is timeless and can be mixed with other styles. My other favorite piece, which happens to be my design, is the quartz top bedside table. After searching for the perfect table, with no luck, I contacted a metal vendor and explained my vision. He was able to produce it to perfection.”
Touijer says that creating a perfect balance and mix in design is “a lot about emotion.”
“Great balance gives you a sense of stability and wellness,” says Touijer. “The Holiday House room I designed has a wonderful mixture of old and new pieces that complement each other yet still allow each piece to stand on their own.”
See the before and after photos below and see how Touijer transformed a dated room into a colorful and lively boudoir.
Visit the Showhouse
Located at The Academy Mansion (2 E 63 St, Manhattan), you can visit from now until December 6 daily 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. or on Thursdays from 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Get more information on how to visit and support this great cause here.
You can see designs by over 20 designers, all in different styles, palettes, and rooms. Talk about being inspired!